Education
BS, Biomedical Engineering, The College of New Jersey, 2017
PhD Candidate, Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, 2017-present
Research Interests
Drug Delivery, Biomaterials, Cerebral Spinal Fluid
Research Summary
Drugs delivered to the brain are cleared rapidly by cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) efflux mechanisms, inhibiting their ability to achieve optimal distributions and exposure. The choroid plexus, a layer of epithelial cells found lining the lateral ventricles, is responsible for secreting CSF and contains various enzymes, ion channels, and transporters involved in CSF production. We hypothesize that drug clearance rates in the brain can be altered through the modulation of CSF secretion at the choroid plexus. The goal of this project is to identify and evaluate potential CSF modulators and investigate their ability to increase drug efficacy in the brain. We have demonstrated in vivo that the carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, Acetazolamide, and calcium ion agonist, Verapamil, significantly alter CSF dynamics when injected intraventricularly in rats. To further identify novel CSF modulators, an in vitro model of the choroid plexus is being fabricated to rapidly screen drugs’ effects on CSF secretion without animal sacrifice. Ultimately, the identified CSF modulators will be tested synergistically with sustained release chemotherapeutic formulations in vivo with the hope that CSF modulation will allow currently established therapies to significantly increase patient survival.
Awards & Honors
Eugene V. Dubois Graduate Fellow, 2017-2018
Rutgers RiSE SuperGrad Fellow, 2017-2018
Biotechnology Training Program Fellow, 2018-present
Publications
Browe, D., Wood, C. et al. Characterization and Optimization of Actuating Poly(Ethylene Glycol) Diacrylate/Acrylic Acid Hydrogels as Artificial Muscles. Polymer, vol. 117, 2017, pp. 331–341.
Representative Graduate Courses Taken
Drug Delivery
Kinetics, Thermodynamics and Transport
Biomechanics
Nano & Micro Biointerfaces
Biosignal Processing